Waiting for the 2026 Clemson Brick Plant Operator’s Forum

Jun 24, 2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 edition of the Forum, to be held on September 28 and 29 in Anderson, South Carolina (USA).

Preparations are in full swing for the Clemson Brick Plant Operator’s Forum (CBPOF), an annual international event that has long played a vital role in promoting the brick industry. The 72nd edition of the event will be held on 28 and 29 September 2026 at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson, South Carolina (USA).

With 35 sponsoring companies already confirmed – including Cosmec, Officine Smac, Sabo, Equipceramic, Beralmar Energies, De Boer, Ceratec, Hellmich, and Direxa – the CBPOF is expected to attract hundreds of industry professionals to attend from across North America, Europe, and other regions of the world.

Technical insights, business and hospitality

The two-day event will feature blocks of technical presentations delivered by prominent brick industry leaders, offering deep insights into topics ranging from wall systems and digitalisation to energy-saving technologies and sustainability.

Alongside these technical presentations, the Forum will offer ample opportunities for professional networking, punctuated with free time to visit sponsor booths and other special hospitality initiatives, including a Wine Hour and the traditional Annual Steak Cookout.

New for 2026 is the “Fundamentals of Drying” seminar to be held on Sunday 27 September at the National Brick Research Center (NBRC). Seating is limited.

The 2026 Forum will once again be an important gathering for industry players at a time of growing attention to innovation, energy efficiency and the sustainability of production processes.

Like every year, the magazine Ceramic World Review – featuring the special Bricks&Tiles section – will be distributed free of charge to all visitors from a dedicated table in the event space.

The National Brick Research Center (NBRC): activities and mission

The Forum is organised by the Brick Education and Research Foundation for the benefit of the National Brick Research Center (NBRC) and its Bishop Materials Laboratory (BML), facilities that are part of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences of Clemson University. The mission of the NBRC is to advance the technology of clay brick materials and products through research, foster the education of ceramic and materials engineering students and provide dedicated support to the sector to drive excellence in the manufacture and application of structural clay building products. It is an autonomous, completely self-funded entity with its own buildings in an off-campus research facility.

Members of the NBRC can also benefit from a variety of other industry and educational services, including technical newsletters with updates on research and industry events and “Little Things Mean a Lot” emails sharing brick industry knowledge. Members also have access to WikiBrick (the NBRC’s own online library of industry papers, articles and presentations) and e-learning opportunities through live webinars and the pre-recorded “Basics for Brickmakers” series available on demand.

The NBRC also offers specialised training courses, including the twice-yearly “Brick and Heavy Clay Manufacturers Short Course” and the once-yearly “Kiln Operation and Combustion Short Course”. These 4-day intensive courses educate through lectures and hands-on lab activities.

For more information, to become a sponsor of the Forum or to register to attend, visit the National Brick Research Center (NBRC) website under the Events tab. Email questions about the Forum to NBRC at [email protected] or contact Dr. John Sanders, NBRC Director, by email ([email protected]) or phone (+1-864-656-1094).